A biometric identity system can identify people by their characteristics. There are different types of physiological biometric identification software. These software can be grouped on the basis of the physical characteristic they identify. The identification method is superior to other methods because it examines characteristics of a person that cannot be easily shared or stolen.

Types

Face Recognition
Face recognition software systematically analyze specific features common to all human faces, including separation between eyes, position of cheekbones, jaw line, etc. After analyzing all the numerical quantities, the software combines them in a single code.

Hand Geometry Biometrics
Hand geometry reading usually takes place in harsh environments, can be done in unclean conditions, and produces a very small dataset. The reading is not considered intrusive. The hand geometry test is many times the preferred method of identification in industrial environments.

Fingerprint Recognition
The fingerprint scanner is a leading application of biometric technology and they are already a part of some laptops and PDAs such as the iPaq Pocket PC.

Traditionally, fingerprint analysis was performed by highly trained professionals. Biometric identification software do the same job, though they use a computer for examining a digital image to identity a person. Such software compare the pattern of ridges and furrows present on the person’s fingertips and the minutiae points of a specimen print with other prints in their database.

Fingerprint comparison has been going on for the past 140 years, and so far no one has found two prints that are exactly the same. With age, fingers grow in size, but the relationship between the ridges does not change.

Retina Scan
Replicating a retina is considered impossible, because the blood vessels present at the back of an eye form a unique pattern. A retina scan requires approximately 15 seconds of careful concentration. This method is still a standard in military installations.

Iris Scan
Iris scanning also delivers unique information that cannot be easily duplicated. The difficulty level of the scan is similar to a retina scan.

Signature
Signatures are another type of information that is not physically intrusive and can be easily gathered by suitable biometric authentication software. Some people use digitized signatures, however, such signatures normally do not have the resolution to ensure authentication.